20 Great Movies to Watch While High

There’s no better way to spend an evening at home than to gather with the ones you love and watch a great movie… and being high just makes it that much better!

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite films to watch while under the influence, in no particular order. Some are classics, some you may never have heard of. There’s a little something here for everyone—some will make you stop and think, some will make you laugh out loud, and some of them might just blow your mind.

So grab some snacks, sit back, light up and enjoy…

1. The Big Lebowski

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? In this classic, the Dude is mistaken for someone who owes the mob money. In the process of clearing his name, the mob ends up destroying the Dudes rug.

Hilarity ensues as he tries to get his rug fixed. Jeff Bridges and John Goldman are amazing as they deliver legendary one liners flawlessly and give their take on some of the cannabis world’s most common archetypes.

2. Pineapple Express

Dale Denton (Seth Rogan) is a process server that witnesses his dealers boss murder a guy. He flees the scene and turns to the only person he can; his weed dealer Saul Silver (James Franco). The bad guys figure out who they are because of the brand new and super rare weed.

Weed is the main focus of this comedy that can tackle surprisingly serious issues in a light-hearted way. These stoners can’t seem to get ahead and always seem to get themselves into more trouble. This one tugs at the feels.

3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Ever wish you could just forget about someone in your past? In this drama, Joel Barish (Jim Carey) struggles to find out who his dream girl is. He ends up going through a mind opening experience where he rediscovered the beauty of an imperfect life.

This introspective mindbender will take you for a ride to places you may have never explored. Science still doesn’t have all the answers to how the brain works and this will get you really thinking.

4. Altered States

This imaginative and intelligent look at psychedelics is a real masterpiece. At times surreal and at others downright silly, somehow the campy nature of it adds to the overall feeling. While amazing high, even sober types will have something to say about this one.

5. Monty Python’s Life of Brian

We follow Brian (Graham Chapman), a somewhat unlucky man living during the birth of Christianity, literally. Brian spends his whole life getting mistaken for the messiah, but it isn’t as awesome as it may sound. But he won’t let the ridiculousness of life stop him or get him down.

We could only include one entry from this distinguished group and it was tough. We opted for this gem for how relevant it is to issues around the globe. Monty Python take their signature British style of humor and confront the difference between what people believe and what people actually experienced at the beginning of the first millennia.

6. Life is Beautiful

What happens when an idyllic life is interrupted by the holocaust? This Italian film follows Guido, a Jewish book keeper with a beautiful family. But Guido’s world is turned upside down when Nazi’s take over and send people to the camps. Somehow, surrounded by death and hopelessness, he is able to find the beauty in life.

7. 3 Idiots

We have all been in a situation where you have nothing to lose. We just haven’t all had the guts to do what we wanted to. Some people never get out of that stage but not this trio. This Bollywood tale follows three college friends as they attempt to settle an old bet and recall the trouble they got into at school. Perfect for rolling up a fatty and laughing your ass off.

8. Half Baked

Thurgood Jenkins (Dave Chappelle) just got a job as a custodian at a lab where they test copious amounts of weed. Unfortunately, his roommate ends up in jail standing murder charges. So it is up to Thurgood to use weed to get his friend out of jail. He just has to be careful that his new girlfriend Mary Jane Potman (Rachel True) doesn’t find out he smokes weed or she will dump him.

Half Baked is filled with interesting information (like horses can be diabetic) and some of the best examples of what black market dealers have to deal with (both with their clients and with their competition). It will take some creative thinking and some stellar weed for these stoners to get their friend out of jail before it’s too late.

9. Yellow Submarine

Have you ever felt high just being near someone? This movie inspired by and based on the Beatles legendary album takes you on one far out ride. The Beatles accompany Captain Fred in his Yellow Submarine and take us along for the acid induced trip. The story takes place in Pepperland where the Beatles use their melodies to free the land from the music hating Blue Meanies. Definitely best watched under the influence of something.

10. Animal House

This is the college movie that inspired everything from the American Pie series and beyond. The Dean of a 1962 college is determined to expel a fraternity made of the schools rejects and party animals. Unfortunately for him, there are rules.

You get everything from John Blutarski (John Belushi) downing a real fifth of whiskey in a single go to helping Chip Diller (Kevin Bacon) become a household name. This movie was responsible or at least marked a whole generation of actors and comedians rise to fame.

11. The Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain is filled with Christian imagery and a mysterious and otherworldly experiences. Everything is more than it seems and goes as deep as you would like. Able to be viewed in several ways, this film seems to morph and adjust to represent whatever is going on in your life. The best part is that it is able to poke fun at religions and materialists alike.

12. Pan’s Labyrinth

This dark psychological thriller explores imagination and reality by introducing us to Ofilia in the falangist Spain of 1944. She meets a faun who tells her that she is a princess. But to prove herself a true heir and meet the King, she must complete three tasks.

The world of Pan’s Labyrinth is dark and unforgiving. Danger lurks just out of sight but is always present. The twisted and sometimes contradictory nature of life is explored in a fantastical setting and amazing visualization.

13. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

We can’t stop and talk about this for too long, it’s bat country! This film is the adaptation of a book written by one of the most unique journalists ever; Hunter S. Thompson. Seriously, look this guy up, he is a bad ass.

This movie explores the depths that someone can steep to when they binge on drugs in the desert. Raul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer (Benicio Del Toro) take a trip to Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race. Since the trip is paid for and they have plenty of time to kill, why not try out every drug known to man? What follows is every use-related reason why it’s a bad idea.

14. Natural Born Killers

Probably most notable for being the movie that inspired the Columbine school massacre, this prison break movie shows that some people are just good at being bad guys. NBK is a startling look at what people are capable of when they have nothing left to lose.

Quentin Terantino has a reputation for delivering blood soaked masterpieces where the world feels real and the characters exist within it. The villains have depth and reason for their actions and the stellar acting pushes it over the edge. And the “good guys” are shown as real people, reacting to the crazy situations they find themselves in instead of some impossible paragon of virtue.

15. Groundhog Day

Have you ever wished you could go back and have another chance at something? How about a whole day? In this romantic comedy, Phil (Bill Murray) is a reporter who has to cover the groundhog celebrations around Punxsutawney. But when Phil wakes up the next morning, it’s still groundhog day.

Phil slowly realizes that he is in a time loop, endlessly repeating the same day. It isn’t until he learns some hard but important lessons about what he can and can’t change that he has a chance to live for tomorrow.

16. Kung Fu Hustle

A comedic take on a part of film history known for low budgets and serious dialogue. If you are into Kung Fu classics, you will get more of the nuanced Easter eggs and pop culture references. There is beautiful music, great martial arts choreography, virtuous heroes, devious villains and plenty of interesting side characters.

This movie pokes fun at many of the ideas that have come to dominate martial arts movies. But, that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on story. The film world is populated with all sorts of people from all walks of life. Even the most intellectually challenged characters are endearing and multidimensional.

17. Dead Man

This is the story of William Blake. A traveler of the extreme western American frontiers during the late 19th century. Lost and badly wounded, he encounters a Native American named Nobody. This movie explores how society and circumstance can conspire to transform even the gentlest and kindest of souls into hardened killers. It holds up a mirror and asks us if we would do any different.

18. Pi

Pi is a mathematical constant. It includes every sequence possible which means that it holds every answer to every question possible. When a math genius creates a computer that can decode the secrets of the universe, powerful people find out and want it for themselves. Shot in grainy and gritty black and white, it sets the mood perfectly for the conflict between cabalists and Wall Street attempting to control everything.

19. A Scanner Darkly

Do you trust the government? In this visually striking film, a future cop ends up dealing with the dark side of a new illicit drug. As the drug takes hold, the distinction between fantasy and reality begin to blur.

This film asks us a question. What makes you, you? Is it memories, perception or a slurry of chemical reactions? The answer may not be as clear as we once thought it was.

20. 2001: A Space Odyssey

What happens when computers get to control things instead of man? In this visionary movie that came out during the 1960’s, we explore the consequences of alien and artificial intelligence.

When mankind discovers an alien artifact on the moon, we send our best to go investigate the mystery of who placed it. But when the next stage of evolution is up for grabs, machines prove that they want it just as much.

What are some of your favorite movies to watch while high? Tell us in the comments below!

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